Stometer
Save your money for something good and enjoyable
Platicsco
Good story, Not enough for a whole film
Scarlet
The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.
themadmovieman
This is a really interesting, dark and thrilling film all packed into one. It may not have the look of the most fast-paced film, but it really delivers and becomes hugely exciting towards the end, and whilst it may not necessarily seem so bleak on the face of things either, it becomes very depressing and heavy-going at some points, however it's got such a fascinating story that you can't help but be totally engrossed.Basically, the plot is full of the most unpredictable twists and turns you could ever imagine. What starts off as a relatively simple story suddenly transforms into an extremely complex tale of state borders, identity confusion and a whole host of other stuff that would normally be pretty tough to follow, however this film's excellent screenplay delivers all of that in such a way that it's still a simple enough watch to be pretty entertaining.However, there's nothing more exciting in this film than the way that it pulls your mind from one side to the other on a constant basis due to its numerous twists, because it eventually makes you realise that it's just too unpredictable to predict, and that sense of anticipation that you get before each twist comes is hugely exhilarating.Also, this film manages to be very heavy and bleak at points whilst still maintaining its excitement. The identity theft element to it is very sad, however what becomes most bleak is the final act, which is more a question of survival rather than anything else, and it really requires a lot to get to grips with.Finally, the most interesting thing about this film was its central character, the German-born British billionaire, played fantastically by Rod Steiger. On the face of things, he's a terrible person, but the strangest thing about this film is that this villain really grows on you as it develops, and he turns into some sort of an anti- hero, who you end supporting towards the end, rather than hope for his arrest as you do earlier on, which I found really fascinating.
Martin Bradley
Of all the films made from the novels and stories of Graham Greene, "Across the Bridge" is probably the least known and least appreciated which is a pity as it's actually very good, (it's much, much better than John Ford's "The Fugitive", his feeble attempt to film "The Power and the Glory"). Of course, with a better director than Ken Annakin and a better supporting cast it might have been perfect. As it is, it's entirely reliant on its plot, which is gripping, and a sterling performance from Rod Steiger, to hold our interest.He's Carl Schaffner, a crooked businessman who, in an attempt to escape justice, assumes the identity of the man he thinks he's killed and who just happens to be a murderer. It's a plot not dissimilar to that of Antonioni's later "The Passenger" and if this film is never in that class, neither does it deserve to be overlooked. Worth seeking out.
Barry Younger
Like many of the reviewers I have been racking my brains to remember the title of this movie and am so glad that I have finally nailed it. I cannot wait to obtain a copy and revisit another brilliant performance by Rod Steiger in this film adaptation of the Graham Green novel. I saw the film at my local cinema when it was first released back in the 50's, I think I was 13yrs old at the time. The plight of Steiger's character and that of the dog he befriends moved me to tears. I still have an image of them huddled together against the cold in a makeshift shelter on the bank of the river, so near, but so far from salvation. If you have not seen this film yet, please do, it will be worth the effort.
oOgiandujaOo_and_Eddy_Merckx
I came to this film via in interest in Rod Steiger, though to tell the truth I am also rather a noir maven.I was disappointed with the script. The key problem is the fact that the plot has a level of contrivance beyond the furthest sky-scraping ambitions of Alfred Hitchcock. One of the main appeals of noir is to show how people can become the desperate victims of chance, Detour is a particularly good example of where this is made to work perfectly, In Across the Bridge the model is stretched and exaggerated.The premise of the movie is intriguing, the fall of a plutocrat, a man once powerful who will become reduced to penury, indigency and pariah status, ultimately caught up in the noir grinder. The contrivances that are used to get from A to B though really test one's patience. There are coincidences of the most bizarre variety that you will rarely find in any farce. The film also becomes unabashedly sentimental, and starts to centre around Schaffner's companionship with the dog Delores.There is an element in reviews of this film of seeing the past through rose-tinted spectacles. The film was unavailable for home viewing for a long time and seemed to have lapsed into obscurity. It doesn't deserve that fate, but it is certainly not the noir masterpiece it is made out to be.
